LOCAL

I-89 murder suspect returned to jail

Zach Despart
Free Press Staff Writer
Karri Benoir, charged with second-degree murder in the July 30 death of Brendon Cousino on I-89 in Richmond, appears this summer in Vermont Superior Court in Burlington. Police say she was arrested again Nov. 16 on suspicion of violating conditions of release.

A Barre woman awaiting trial on murder charges is back in jail after prosecutors said she violated her conditions of release.

A judge ordered Karri Benoir held for lack of $100,000 bail after police arrested her Monday at her apartment in Barre. Benoir faces a charge of second-degree murder after prosecutors say she intentionally caused a highway wreck that killed a Richmond man this summer.

At her arraignment Aug. 10, a judge ordered Benoir, 23, to be supervised by her parents at her apartment 24 hours per day. In a court filing Monday, Chittenden County Deputy State's Attorney Bram Kranichfeld said prosecutors had learned Benoir's father never moved in with her, and Benoir's mother lived in the apartment only until Oct. 22.

Kranichfeld wrote in his motion he believed Benoir's mother moved out on that date after Benoir "physically assaulted her." He noted Benior's parents had been ordered by a judge to inform the court if Benoir violated her conditions but had failed to do so.

Prosecutors believe Benior intentionally drove her car across the median on Interstate 89 in Richmond on July 30, into oncoming traffic. She struck and killed Brendon Cousino, an emergency medical technician and father of three.

Angelina and Bruce Benoir sit behind daughter Karri Benoir during a court hearing earlier this year in Vermont Superior Court in Burlington.

Prosecutors believe Benoir attempted to commit suicide by colliding with another car after a fight with her boyfriend. For that reason, Kranichfeld said Benoir poses a risk to the public if released without supervision.

The defense has disputed the notion that Benoir was attempting to end her life and caused the crash on purpose.

Benoir's conditions of release also prohibit her from driving.

If convicted, Benoir faces 20 years to life in prison.

Woman pleads not guilty in I-89 fatal

Police: I-89 crash survivor to face murder charge

Contact Zach Despart at 651-4826 or zdespart@burlingtonfreepress.com. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ZachDespart.